Grey Matters 2007
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Grey Matters Grey College Association Magazine • January 2007 Charles, Earl Grey 1764 – 1845 (Prime Minister 1831 – 1834) Architect of the Great Reform Bill 1832 & Prime Minister when Durham University was founded in the same year Grey Matters , January 2007 1 Letter from the President the work of the Association was given by Tom Dear Association Members I am pleased to report that the Association goes from strength to strength. The annual reunion last March attended by the Vice Chancellor and Lady Calman and the Dean of Durham Cathedral was a great success with over 140 attendees at the dinner. The Vice Chancellor stepped in as a speaker at the last moment when Rabbi Lionel Blue had to cancel through ill health. “The Colleges are the Durham difference”, said Sir Kenneth, “and Grey College is a great example of a community supported by past and present students looking to the future”. There was also a successful London reunion in September when we were delighted to renew our acquaintance with the Grey man Chris Higgins One of the exhibits on loan from the Reform who is to become the Vice Chancellor of Club for the exhibition Reform! Reform! Durham University in April. I am sure we all Reform! at Grey in March 2007 wish him every success. This year the dates of the reunions are Cliff – and one in May where finalists were different. At the AGM we agreed to change the encouraged to keep in touch with the College th th th annual reunion date to September 7 , 8 and 9 through the Association and to get involved. rather than an April date so that we would fit in This recent development of active involvement th with the celebrations for the 175 anniversary in the College’s corporate and current life of the founding of Durham University (you can reinforces the importance of the Association. book and pay at www.durham.ac.uk/175 or see As we approach our 50 th anniversary in 2009 page 17 for more details.). The London reunion our numbers have grown to almost seven th will be held on April 27 at Topo Gigio thousand members and still growing. Because restaurant (see details on page 4). Next year of this we are in a stronger position than ever to however we shall return to the usual pattern. support the Master and the College in I am pleased to mention that the continuing to make Grey great. Business Angels scheme goes well. Awards have been made to current undergraduates. The All good wishes Association has sponsored the cost of food for current students at two formal meals, one in Henry Dyson November – where a short presentation about Professor Alan Martin FRS Fellow of Grey College and Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics has been awarded the Max Born Prize of the Institute of Physics for his promotion of Anglo German cooperation in Physics. Congratulations from all your friends and former students at Grey! Painting on cover by L.A. Wilcox, 1964 after Sir Thomas Lawrence and situated in the Dining Hall. Grey Matters , January 2007 2 From the Master As I am sure all readers of Grey Matters are aware, Durham University was re-founded 175 years ago at the time of the Great Reform Bill going through parliament. Christopher Hill, the famous historian writing in the 1960’s, commented with surprise that Durham had declined to name its new College after the original founder of the University (Oliver Cromwell), but had chosen instead that of the Reforming Earl , Charles, Earl Grey. Perhaps (and with all due respect to the memory of that famous historian), Hill did not appreciate the importance of Grey in the life of the country, and of the region, at a very dangerous time. Grey’s formation of a Society of Friends of the People , which sought to promote the rights of the ordinary citizen marked him out as an enlightened leader when there was a genuine possibility of a bloody revolution in Britain. When his work on Catholic emancipation, and on the abolition of the slave trade, are also taken into account, it is clear that Grey was an excellent choice for the name of this College; furthermore, we are right to continue to uphold those same principles of tolerance, lack of bigotry and broad understanding that were shown by him. For this reason, too, we have decided to mark the 175 th Anniversary of the University by holding a seminar and debate on Earl Grey and the Limits of Reform in early March. College will also be hosting, for the first time out of London, an exhibition from the Reform Club entitled Reform! Reform! Reform! Details are given in this edition of Grey Matters and all Greymen and Greywomen are very welcome to attend. We have had our sad times, of course, and Grey Matters notes, with great regret, the On the statue by Thomas Campbell, sculptor death of our Honorary Fellow Dr Thetis (1838) the inscription reads: “This statue of Blacker in late 2006. Dr Blacker was a gifted Charles, Earl Grey was presented to his friends artist who gave a number of fine works, to Mary Elizabeth Countess Grey in Testimony including the famous Phoenix above High and admiration of his public and private virtues Table. We shall miss her great personality and MDCCCXXXVIII”. Generously given to the warmth very much. On a happier note, another College by his descendents in 1965. Honorary Fellow, Rabbi Lionel Blue (known to millions from his early morning radio slot) was Grey Matters , January 2007 3 presented by the College for an Honorary University does nothing to erode these Degree at the winter congregation. Lionel arrangements, allegedly in the cause of delighted a full Hall a few days later with some efficiency, in the coming year characteristically amusing stories with a I do hope that you will enjoy reading thought-provoking message just below the our 2007 magazine. You will find many items surface. of interest and will see that Grey continues to Many Greymen and Greywomen will be a very lively and interesting place to live and remember the familiar faces of Jean Heslington work. We have so much going on, from our and John Bennett. Jean steps down as Dining expanding and successful Fellowships Room Supervisor this year, and John retired as programme, through MCR and JCR activities, Porter in 2006. Grey, along with all of the to our arts, music and sports. We are immensely Durham Colleges, relies enormously on grateful too, to you, the Senior Members of the colleagues such as Jean and John who give so College for all your continuing interest which is much – over and above the call of duty – to this demonstrated, for example, in the flourishing community of scholars of all ages. Business Angels scheme. Please remember that Our present system encourages you are always welcome back in Grey, and we immense loyalty amongst people who work look forward to seeing you here again soon. here and who provide such friendly and personal support to everyone. I would like to Martyn Chamberlain record my gratitude to them all, and to say that Master of Grey College, Durham. I will do everything I can to ensure that the Epiphany Term, 2007 Have you Published a Book or Paper? If so do consider giving a copy to the new Victor Watts library. We hope to build up a comprehensive collection to celebrate the intellectual achievements of all Grey alumni. Recent contributions include a complete set of all Rabbi Lionel Blue’s work and a History of Russian Symbolism by Dr Avril Pyman, Emeritus Reader in Russian Literature in Durham. Dr Euan Ross Tutor of Grey College and (just retired!) Departmental Administrator in the Chemistry Department was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List. Congratulations from us all! Grey Matters , January 2007 4 Reform! Reform! Reform! Throughout March there will be an exhibition of artefacts and memorabilia relating to Earl Grey and the 19 th century reformers. This has been borrowed from the Reform club in London and has never been open to the general public before. Exhibition open on Saturday and Sunday throughout March, 10am – 6pm or by special appointment on weekdays. Contact Jan Pearson on 0191 334 5557 or Henry Dyson on 07798 884638. “What! Sell my Liberty”, artist unknown. John Bull (r.) holding the Reform Bill looks on as the rotten boroughs go up in flames, through which a charred Duke of Wellington (?) is rising. Britannia carries a cap of liberty and pennant. The event will debate the impact of the 1832 reforms on today’s society. Richard Moss, Political Editor and Presenter of the Politics Show from the North East and Cumbria, will chair the panel of six speakers, drawn from the The School of Reform. Grey teaches Tory pupils academic, political and media communities. to conjugate the verb ‘to Reform’. Wellington Contact Jan Pearson on 0191 334 5557 or the dunce, says “I can’t Reform”. [email protected] for more information about this event. The College is very grateful to the Reform Club and especially thanks His Honour Judge Bing (Club Chairman) and Dr Peter Urbach (Club Archivist) for their invaluable help in making this exhibition possible. Seminar - Earl Grey and the Limits of Reform 3 March 2007, 5.30pm at Grey College As a contribution to 175th Anniversary of the University’s founding its founding, we Artist W.H. Brewer, 1832 are holding an event to reflect the College’s Watched by Brougham, the dog, ‘Billy’, history and also its belief in broad academic hesitates to kill the Tory rats.